When asked “what do you want to be when you grow up,” surveys show American and British kids dream of becoming YouTubers. This passed doctors, athletes, and astronauts as the most popular answer. People online say it is sad because Chinese kids still want to be astronauts, but becoming a YouTuber is just a reflectionContinue reading “Everyone Wants To Be a Poster”
Category Archives: Creation
Encouragement is Actually Important
As much as we don’t want to admit it, encouragement is actually important. As individuals, we often believe we don’t need encouragement. We think “I am passionate, smart, and tough enough to do this without support.” Many fail to realize that encouragement is responsible for where we are now. We also learn to be distrustfulContinue reading “Encouragement is Actually Important”
Observers of the In-Between
There are places in-between the spaces we live. We rarely “see” them, but they are there. I’ve realized many of my favourite writers, video makers, and photographers are constantly exploring this space in-between. They travel and then observe the space between where they start and finish. Their destination doesn’t matter, it is someplace you’ve neverContinue reading “Observers of the In-Between”
The Infinite Remix of Kanye West
People want infinite amounts of the content they like. We want more episodes of the series we like, writing from the authors we like, and music from the musicians we like. The internet improved a creator’s ability to do this. The price of publication and distribution is basically zero, the only cost in this instanceContinue reading “The Infinite Remix of Kanye West”
Every Point Matters
An annoying fact about tennis is that every point matters. There are no “rest points.” The next point is always important. This is true for good and bad players, and regardless if you are winning or losing. Writing is no different, it turns out. In tennis, a long point is worth the same as aContinue reading “Every Point Matters”
Content About Creation Is Procrastination
Consuming content about creation won’t make you a successful creator. It is a trap that leads to thinking there is a “right” way to create, thus preventing you from creating. Meta-creators (creators who create about creating) say the answer is in their newsletters, video courses, writing workshops, tweet threads, and productivity guides. These “answers” won’tContinue reading “Content About Creation Is Procrastination”
Communities Should Create Paid Content
Communities normally monetize in two ways: access and status. Many communities exist “after” knowledge. They are an incentive for getting through the course, project, guide, or certification. They allow access to people who did the same. Once you gained the knowledge (and often paid for it), then you get access to the community. This isContinue reading “Communities Should Create Paid Content”
Build Above Ground
Everyone judges construction sites. We say “this is coming along quickly” or “this will never finish.” When judging construction, all we care about is what’s above ground. Only when we peer between the fence and look closely do we care about what’s below ground. Construction can seem endless because of all the time spent workingContinue reading “Build Above Ground”
The Readership Will Take Care of Itself
Nearly every day, I find myself thinking about ways to get people to read my writing. I tell myself to update the design, start a newsletter, tweet more, or optimize SEO. I say to myself, “If only I spent more time on those, then I would be successful.” Maybe I have to wait and getContinue reading “The Readership Will Take Care of Itself”
Don’t Forget The Goal
We forget that we forget. People and organizations forget all the time. We trick ourselves into believing we remember more than we do. Do you remember what you had for dinner three days ago? Or who you had a meeting with last Thursday afternoon? What is an important fact of an article you read earlyContinue reading “Don’t Forget The Goal”
Ian Vanagas 